85. Your Pointe Shoe Fairy Godmother: Finding the Right Fit with Josephine Lee

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Josephine Lee, founder and CEO of The Pointe Shop and the first official pointe shoe fitter of San Francisco Ballet. With over 15 years of experience, Josephine is one of the most influential and trusted pointe shoe fitters in the world.


We dive deep into what actually makes a pointe shoe right (or wrong), why pain is not something dancers should push through, and how pointe shoe fitting is a dynamic, ever-changing process throughout a dancer’s career.


Josephine also breaks down virtual pointe shoe fittings, common misconceptions dancers have about their shoes, the real risks of dancing in dead shoes, and what dancers can do to advocate for themselves, especially when they don’t yet have the language to describe what they’re feeling.


This conversation is equal parts educational, practical, and eye-opening, and it’s a must-listen for dancers at every stage, as well as teachers and parents who want to support long-term dancer health.
Key Points in this Episode:


• Josephine’s path into pointe shoe fitting and building The Pointe Shop

• Why pointe shoe fitting is not a one-and-done process

• How virtual pointe shoe fittings work

• Common pointe shoe misconceptions dancers have

• The dangers of dancing in shoes that are too dead

• The truth about “cheater shoes” and synthetic pointe shoes

• What dancers should track to advocate for themselves long-term

Connect with Josephine:


WEBSITE: thepointeshop.com (http://thepointeshop.com/)


INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thepointeshop (  / thepointeshop  )


INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/josephineylee (  / josephineylee  )


Links and Resources:


1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call (https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/ca...)


Get 20% off your first order of ALOHA protein bars: https://aloha.com/BRAINYBALLERINA


Let’s connect!


My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com (http://thebrainyballerina.com/)


INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina (  / thebrainyballerina  )


Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com